Ledger.



LEDGBR. I APPLICATION FILED MAB. 10, 1902.

No MoDEL.

WY! l -H l UNI-TED STATES PATENT' CFFICE.

FREDERICK PETERS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO CHARLES F. BACKUS, CF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

LEDG ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 724,496, dated April 7, 1908. Application filed March 1902. Serial No. 97,620. (No model) To a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK PETERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of 5 Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ledgers, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention hasA particular reference to io loose-leaf ledgers of that type wherein the ledger-covers are capable of being moved to or away from each other to permit of the insei-tion of ledger-leaves and the subsequent clamping of the ledger contents.

The invention consists in a novel form of mechanism for moving the covers and in the peculiar construction and combination of the Various parts thereof, as will be fully hereinafter described, and shown in the drawings,

Figure l is a sectional perspective View of a ledger embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detached plan View of the housing and the winding mechanism therein; and Fig. Sis a section on line :t Fig. 2.

The reference-letter'A designates the upper or top cover of the ledger, and B the lower complementary cover, and C and D represent hinged strips secured to and forming part of 3o the covers, as shown in Fig. l.

E and F designate back plates carried by the covers, which are adapted to protect the rear edges of the ledger-leaves, and G designates posts, which may be of any suitable type for adjustably securing the covers to each other. In practice I preferably employ extensible posts, consisting of tubular members a, secured to a plate a upon the strip portion D of the cover B, and complementary 4o tubular post members b, attached to the housing H, which is in turn secured to the strip C in any suitable manner. Y i bers are adapted to engage one'within the other, as shown, and within the central post I insert a coiled spring I of a length substantially equal to the length of the extended post in which it is arranged. The spring is adapted to bear against the lower hinged strip and the housing and acts normally to 5o separate the covers, holding them at a con- The post mem-` siderable distance apart to permit of the ready insertion of the ledger-leaves.

The letter .I designates a winding mechanism for drawing the covers together against the tensionv of the spring I to clamp the ledger-contents. This mechanism is located within the housingH and is of the following construction:

K is a main operating-shaft journaled in bearings L in the housing, one end of which 6o is squared, as at c, and extends through an aperture c in the housing into close proximity to theledger side nearest the operator. Fixed upon this shaft -are the drums g, one above each end post, and 7L designates cables or 65 straps, connected one to each drum, extending through apertures 'L' in the housing into and through the hollow posts. The supporting-plate a is apertured, as at aat its ends to receive the end posts, and h is a cable- 7o guide extending across each aperture and secured to the supporting plate, as shown. The free end of each cable extends over its guide and is connected to the cover opposite to that carrying the housing, as shown in Fig. l. The particular fastening means for each cable end consists of a clamping-plate a3, located within a recess a* in the strip D. This clamp is secured by means of a screw d5 to the supporting-plate al and clamps the 8o cable end to said plate, as shown..

O designates a ratchetwheel fixedupon the shaft, preferably at its center, and P is a dog engaging the wheel, which is provided with ank operating handle Q. *The handle de- 85 scribed is journaled in the shaft-bearings and is provided with a squared end p2, which projects into an aperture e2, formed in the housing immediately beneath the aperture c.

VR is a coil-spring attached to the arm Q and 9o to one of the bearings and acts upon the dog to keep the latter in engagement with' the wheel.

From the above description of my device it will be seen that by means of a suitable key A by turning the shaft K the'covers will be vdrawn together to produce the clamping effect desired and will also be locked in their clamped position by the dog. By engaging with the key the end of the arm Q and turnlos by one of the covers, a flexible binding device connecting the complementary cover with said rotatable .member and adapted to be Wound upon the latter, and means for operating the rotatable member.

2. In a ledger, the combination with the complementary covers, of extensible connecting-posts therefor, a rotatable member carried by one of the covers, a flexible binding device detachably secured at one end to the complementary cover and attached at its opposite end to the rotatable member and adapted to be wound upon the latter, and means for operating said rotatable member to clamp the ledger contents.

3. In a ledger, the combination with the complementary covers, of a hollow connecting-post therebetween, a winding-shaft carried by one of the covers, and a flexible binding device extending through the post and secured at its ends to the complementary cover and winding-shaft.

4. In a ledger, the combination with the complementary covers, of an extensible connecting-post therebetween, a winding-shaft carried by one of the covers, a drum thereon, a strap adapted to be wound upon the drum and connectingthe latter with the complementary cover, and means for operating the shaft.

5. In a ledger, the combination with the complementary covers, connections therebetween permitting relative movement of the covers, a winding-shaft carried by one of said covers extending in adjacence totheinner side of the ledger, a flexible winding device connecting said shaft and the complementary cover and adapted to be wound upon the shaft, a ratchet wheel upon the shaft, a spring-actuated dog engaging the ratchetwheel, and an operating-arm extending substantially parallel with the shaft to and operable at the inner side of the ledger.

6. In a ledger, the combination with the complementary covers, of a hollow extensible post therebetween, a winding-shaft journaled in bearings carried by one of the covers, and

tary cover.

7. In a ledger, the combination with the complementary covers, of a hollow extensible post therebetween, a winding-shaft j ournaled in bearings carried by one of the covers, and a flexible connecting member, extending through the post, secured at one end to and adaptedto be wound upon the shaft and detachably connected at its opposite end to the complementary cover.

8. In a ledger, the combination with the complementary covers, of a hollow extensible connecting post therefor, a windingshaft journaled in bearings carried by one of the covers, a band or strap extending through the post, and connected at its ends to the' shaft and the complementary cover, and a guide member for centering the band or strap Within the post.

9. In a ledger, the combination with the complementary covers,of a tubular extensible connecting-post therebetween, a shaft journaled in bearings carried by one of the covers, a winding-drum upon said shaft arranged over the post, a band or strap, extending through the post, connected at one end to the drum and detachably connected at its opposite end to the complementary cover, and a guide-bar for said band or strap extending diametrically across the post end opposite the drum.

IO. In a ledger, the combination with the complementary covers, of extensible connecting-posts therebetween, a winding-shaft journaled in bearings carried by one of the covers, and a band or strap secured at one end to said winding-shaft and detachably connected at its opposite end to the complementary cover.

1l. In a ledger, the combination with the complementary covers, of a hollow connecting-post therebetween, a rotary member carried by one of the covers, a ilexible binding device extending through the post and connected to the rotary member and comple- 'mentary cover, and means for rotating the member.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

- FREDERICK PETERS.

Vitnesses:

M. B. ODOGHERTY, H. C. SMITH.

ICO

Ilo 

